Forum programme

• Farah ALIYEVA, Head of the Department for Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism and Religious Affairs, Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Mesud AFANDIYEV, Chair of the World Association of Azerbaijani Scientists
• Hafiz PASHAYEV, Rector of ADA University
• Emin AMRULLAYEV, Minister of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Fuad MURADOV, Chair of the State Committee on Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Discussion topic: The role of scientists in the internationalisation of science and higher education in Azerbaijan

• What role do internationalisation strategies play—including faculty and student mobility and aligning curricula with labour-market needs—in producing graduates with modern knowledge and skills?
• What functions can scientists living abroad perform in developing science and higher education in Azerbaijan and attracting international students and professors?

Participants:

• Hafiz PASHAYEV, Rector of ADA University
• Adalat MURADOV, Rector of Azerbaijan State University of Economics
• Vilayat VALIYEV, Rector of Azerbaijan Technical University
• Hamlet ISAKHANLI, Founder of Khazar University
• Rufat AZIZOV, Rector of Sumgayit State University during the forum; from 2025, Rector of Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry
• Ceyran MAHMUDOVA, Rector of Azerbaijan State University of Culture and Arts

Discussion topic: Building a global academic network — new approaches to developing local universities and research institutes

• How can the role of scientists living abroad be strengthened in connecting universities and research institutes operating in Azerbaijan with international academic networks?
• China's experience is a positive example of benefiting from diaspora scientists. How do our scientists abroad see establishing such a model for Azerbaijan?

Participants:

• Elmar GASIMOV, Rector of Baku Higher Oil School
• Gulchohra MAMMADOVA, Rector of Azerbaijan State University of Architecture and Construction
• Vazeh ASKEROV, Acting Rector of Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry during the forum
• Elchin BABAYEV, Rector of Baku State University
• Yagub PIRIYEV, Rector of Baku Engineering University
• Elbrus ISAYEV, Rector of Nakhchivan State University

In these sessions

• Discussions were held around sample short-, medium- and long-term strategies, and the most suitable options for implementation were selected.
• Documents were produced reflecting the group's priority strategic directions and explaining why they were appropriate, also taking into account issues raised in the addresses of state officials and university leaders.

In these sessions

• priority strategic directions identified in previous sessions,
• issues raised in the addresses of state officials and university leaders, and
• Through exchange around recommended discussion topics by field of science, sample short-, medium- and long-term strategic plans for WAAS were drafted.

The closing session is intended to discuss and adopt short-, medium- and long-term strategies. If time constraints or other reasons prevent strategies from being finalised during the forum, designated WAAS members and local participants will work offline in groups on the outcomes obtained.